IIE337 - Introduction to American Politics

1. How can the US Constitution be amended?  Why is it so difficult to amend?
2. What were the major problems facing the Articles of Confederation?  How did the new Constitution address those problems?
3. How does the Electoral College work?  Why does the US have an Electoral College rather than direct election of the president?
4. What solutions did James Madison advocate in The Federalist Papers and the Constitution, to prevent tyranny of the majority?
5. Which groups are under- or over-represented in the American political system?  Why? What are some policy consequences of biased representation?
6. How did the Constitution address issues of race  and slavery?
7. What is selective perception - exposure – retention?  Examples of each?
8. What is ideology? What are the major differences between liberal and conservative ideologies in the US today?
9. Does the US media provide fair and balanced coverage of politics?  Why or why not?
10. Why have campaign “sound bites” become so much shorter in recent years?
11. What has been the political impact of the Internet?  Examples?
12. What is a direct primary?  What are the major types of primaries?  Which do parties prefer?
13. What is a heuristic? Why does party identification often serve as a heuristic?
14. What are some examples of strategic voting?
15. What is the “median voter,” and how does the median voter affect party strategy?
16. Why have third parties found it difficult to compete in US politics?
17. What is the evidence for Republican realignment after 1980?  For party dealignment?

1. What is an interest group?  How does it differ from a political party?
2. What is a public interest group?  Examples?  Why do people join such groups?
3. Why are consumer and taxpayer groups so hard to organize?
4. What are some reasons people join interest groups?  Why join the NRA?
5. What is a PAC?  What are the largest or most influential PACS in the US?
6. What are some legal constraints on the 1st Amendment guarantee of freedom of association?  Examples? 
7. What is civil disobedience?  Is it legal?  Examples of its use?
8. Why does Hudson argue that business has a “privileged position” in the US?
9. How does business dominance challenge the pluralist view of democracy?
10. What are the major types of business lobbying groups?
11. What lobbying tactics have business groups used most effectively?  Examples?
12. What are property rights?  How does this ideology help business?
13. What are some counterarguments to Hudson’s thesis about business dominance?
14. What reforms does Hudson advocate to challenge business dominance?
15. Why is the US more religious than most other developed countries?
16. What is the Religious Right?  Why did it emerge in the 1970s? What values does it support?
17. What tactics has the Religious Right used successfully?  Unsuccessfully?
18. What internal or external factors affect interest group success? Examples?
19. What are some social trends or strategies that challenge the Religious Right?
20. Why do many followers of the Religious Right fit Hudson’s textbook model of developmental democracy?
21. What is countervailing power?  Examples?
22. What are some differences between House and Senate elections?
23. Why are so many Congressional incumbents reelected?
24. What roles do the Speaker and the Rules Committee play in the House?
25. What is a conference committee?  A standing committee?
26. How do political parties try to organize their members in Congress? Do they succeed?
27. What is a filibuster?  How can it be ended?
28. What are some powers held by the Senate but not the House?
29. How can Congress override a presidential veto?
30. How do members of Congress decide how to vote? Can their votes be “bought” by lobbyists or PAC contributions?
31. Why do most Americans dislike Congress but vote to reelect their own Congressman?